The event took place on Tuesday 16 December in the Events Hall at Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya, a centre affiliated with the University, and was attended by academic authorities, university representatives, teaching staff and members of the dentistry community, who joined Dr Giner on this special day.

Dr Alfonso Méndiz, rector of UIC Barcelona, was tasked with welcoming the attendees and presiding over the panel comprised of Dr Josep Argemí, professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and rector emeritus of the University; Dr José Luis Gutiérrez, professor at the University of Seville; Dr Mariona Peraire, professor at the University of Barcelona; and Dr María del Carmen Llena, professor at the University of Valencia.

During the ceremony, Dr Josep Argemí was charged with reading the laudatio to the new professor and presenting his merits. In his remarks, he reflected on Dr Giner’s personal, academic and professional path, highlighting his early vocation for the health sciences, his training in medicine, nursing and stomatology and his dedication to dentistry, particularly in the fields of prosthodontics and biomaterials. He likewise emphasised his decisive contribution to the creation and development of UIC Barcelona’s Faculty of Dentistry, his extensive research, the number of doctoral theses he has supervised and his international renown. Through his words, Dr Argemí also drew attention to Dr Giner’s strong sense of responsibility, reflected in dental care programmes for vulnerable groups and international cooperation projects, which have earned him humanitarian recognition.

Dr Lluís Giner then gave his first speech as a new professor, in which he shared his vision for the future of universities and dentistry. During his address, he stressed the importance of integrating clinical practice, teaching and research and promoting a comprehensive approach to student education that combines technical excellence, scientific rigour and humanistic values. He also highlighted the role of educational innovation, interdisciplinary cooperation and knowledge transfer as key pillars in UIC Barcelona’s academic project.

Holder of a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a PhD from the University of Barcelona, Dr Lluís Giner also boasts a series of postgraduate degrees and specialisations within the field of dentistry, including postgraduate degrees in Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology, Stomatology and a Master's Degree in Bioethics.

Throughout his research and teaching career, he has supervised or co-supervised around 34 doctoral theses, two of them with international distinction, as well as an industrial doctoral degree awarded competitive public funding and recognition. Since 1991, he has made more than 515 contributions to scientific conferences and delivered 48 presentations as an invited speaker. Dr Giner holds five patents and has been involved in five competitive research projects, 102 research contracts and five teaching innovation projects.

Member of the Royal European Academy of Doctors and the Pierre Fauchard Spanish Academy of Dentistry, Dr Lluís Giner currently serves as president of the Conference of Deans and Academic Directors of the Faculties of Dentistry of Spain (CRADO) and has received prestigious international distinctions such as the Grand Cross of Honour for Humanitarian Merit.

Since 1997, Dr Lluís Giner has taught in the Faculty of Dentistry at UIC Barcelona, where he has served as dean since 2011.

With this appointment, UIC Barcelona acknowledges Dr Lluís Giner’s decisive contribution to the development of the Faculty of Dentistry and reinforces its commitment to academic excellence, impactful research and service to society.